So how do we know if the students are really doing the work?

This is the question I get a lot from outsiders, insiders too. I even was dubious about it myself when I first interviewed for the job.

We pretty much let student go on the honor system. I tend to give assignments that include concepts and require written feedback from the student. As a result, they can tell me they did an activity but they have to explain it adequately to satisfy my concern that they did what they say they did. This may not always be enough, however.

Lately, I have been working on developing a plan that would require students to "prove" or authenticate that they are doing the physical activity portions of the assignment. There are a number of ways - students get a notarized signature that they participated in an activity, send pictures or film of themselves performing the assigned task or activity, meet students at scheduled locations during the semester etc.....

One idea I have been considering is that if students cannot prove they did the physical activity then they can only pass with a certain grade, maybe a C letter grade at best. I would not fail students for lack of evidence of working out, particularly if they do everything else that is required, but I am thinking that they should no longer pass with flying colors either.

Any thoughts out there on this sensitive issue? I think the ideas in my blog are a step in the right direction.

MyFitnessPal

I asked my 12th grade students to check out the http://www.myfitnesspal.com/ website this past week. Students were required to log in every day and record their meals. The website diary would then generate a list of calories consumed and break it down to protein, fat and carbohydrates.

I also asked students to log in any physical activity that they did on those days as well. The net product was a report that the website generated tabulating 4 days worth of food consumption and physical activity. The results so far have been good. While requesting this kind of assignment may not be so unique, it seems to have a lot of merit because it ties nutrition and physical activity together as well as physical education with technology.

Sportsmanship sound-off.....

Do you know who this guy is in the picture? Well, I decided to ask my 11th and 12th grade students the same question. The reason why I ask is that this guy has been involved in a bit of controversy in the NFL. Seems Mr. Hochuli, the officials name, made a mistake in judgement in a recent pro football game that ended up costing the San Diego Chargers a potential victory. Well, Mr. Hochuli came out shortly after the game and admitted that he made a mistake and even apologized in public. In fact, he responded to the several hundred pieces of "hate" email that he received after the game as well.

In my humble opinion, Hochuli did not have to do this. I respect and admire him for doing so. So I asked my students to elaborate on whether Hochuli, or any other official, should be expected to respond to emails in the future, especially if they have already made a public statement. It is too early to post any results from my class. What say you?

Surge training article and comments....

Hi all,

I read the surge training article in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette yesterday. It fascinated me. I teach what I call an exercise unit. One of the lessons I feature is interval training. Surge training is similar except it advocates that the exerciser do the quick bursts about 3 times and then stop. The article, featuring a Pittsburgh based chiropractor, also suggests that surge training is best for losing weight and most effective after a resistance training workout (weights primarily). I don't know why it would be better to do the surge training post weight training activities but I am curious to find out more. Anybody else read this article or have any thoughts on the matter? I think I just found some quality reading material for my 12th graders next month.

My first post of this week 9/15....

Hi all,

Thanks for checking in on me. Today at my school we had an in-service day. Why such an early date, I don't know, but we did. It was uneventful, in my opininion.

One thing I did accomplish today was submitting my HighMark Healthy High 5 grant proposal for typing. I have never applied for a grant in the past. I am confident that our school will be granted some money this year. We would like to purchase pedometers for as many of our students as possible. In addition, we hope to purchase some heart rate monitors as well. We could use those in some upcoming face to face meetings with our students.

I actually developed a program for this grant proposal that would fit in nicely with my planned idea for the practicum. If everything works out here, I could get money for the school and purchase much needed equipment for cyber school students. Furthermore, I could then develop then put to life a plan I had actually developed about two years ago which would help me finally meet the requirements of finishing all class work at SRU.

Have any of you applied for this grant and/or done so in the past and been awarded any grant money? I would be curious to know what you received and what you did with it.

Thanks for reading. More to come later in the week.

RAC

Welcome to the Campsie blog....

Hi,

I am Rich Campsie and you have found my blog. I teach high school physical education these days at PA Learners Online. Yes, that's right I teach on-line pe courses for a regional cyber charter school.

I have some different perspectives on teaching physical education these days and I am here to share my thoughts and view points. Enjoy and feel free to respond to my thoughts.

Thanks,

R. A. Campsie